Halsey, unknown until just two years ago, has become one of the brightest stars in today’s landscape. Even if you don’t know her name, you’ve heard her collaboration with The Chainsmokers, “Closer.” She’s not just an amazing artist, though. Halsey has always been unapologetically herself. She tells her fans and reporters exactly how it is. She does what she wants. She doesn’t hide things about herself, where she comes from, her controversial views and experiences. She refuses to be labeled. That’s what makes her the dynamo she is and why she is such a magnetic personality. It is because of this that she is truly an icon of our time, and here’s why

1.Her parent’s kicked her out after she dropped out of college.

In high school, Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, now Halsey, was an artsy AP student strolling the hallways. She was in her senior year and had been accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design. However, she soon learned that she couldn’t afford to go. Ultimately she dropped out of school, much to her parents’ dismay. They kicked her out and she was homeless. She couch surfed at friends’ houses and made it the best she could. At the time she was discovered, this is what her life was. Something she is very open about.

2. She chose the record label she did for a reason.

When Halsey was discovered, it was all because of a cellphone video that ended up in the hands of the right people. She got invited to come record her first single, “Ghost,” and she then put it on her SoundCloud. It was a song she had written about her drug-addicted ex-boyfriend. The morning after she recorded it she had multiple messages from major record labels wanting her to sign with them. And the song was on the music charts. As for the record label she chose, it was a branch of Capitol Records. She needed a label that would allow her to be who she was, write and perform her own music, and for the most part, manage herself.

Check out her first single here:

3. She makes sure the media can’t twist what she says or does.

There has been a lot of media discussion surrounding Halsey. More specifically things like her sexuality and her mental health. Halsey has not minced words on either of these subjects. She is very clear about who she is and what she has been through. As for her sexuality, she identifies as bisexual. Though she has received a lot of backlash for her songs about her relationships with men. She still refuses to let any of this define her though. She shaved her head recently so that the media could no longer use that to judge her. In terms of her mental health, she’s been very open about her past struggles. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 17 after she tried to overdose on pills. Her openness about these subjects has been a push in the right direction, a push towards removing the stigmas often associated with them.

4. She had a miscarriage right before a performance AND STILL PERFORMED.

For whatever reason, there is never a discussion about miscarriages. It’s a point of shame for most women. However, Halsey has openly discussed her loss of pregnancy. Last year while she was touring, she became pregnant. Suddenly, her new career was in jeopardy. What would her fans think? Would her record label drop her? Before she ever got to really address these concerns, she miscarried in a hotel room. It was an emotionally charged moment. She had to make the decision whether or not to perform. She sent her assistant to go buy her adult diapers and she went on stage and performed. She has described it as the “angriest performance” she ever had. At the end of the day, though, deciding to perform was completely her decision. No one made her. That’s just the kind of badass she is.

5. She’s the badass role model we should have more of.

Though I don’t think she would want to be called a role model, she is. She is unapologetically who she is. And at 22, that’s pretty damn impressive. In just a few short years she’s gone from a homeless artist to a woman who’s sold out Madison Square Garden and had her own collaboration with MAC. Despite her hardships, she’s overcome them and now talks about them openly in hopes of helping others in similar situations. She may only be a few months older than me, but she’s the badass I often wish I was.